Wat makes the black belts turn gray?

Question

I noticed that most of the high rank masters black belts R gray. I cant imagine them starting lik that so how does that happen. My friend thinks it comes from them wiping their sweat on their belts but IDK.

Answer 1

they fade if they are in the sun for to long also sweat and washing them makes them fade.

Answer 2

Its fading and wear & tear over time.

But, there is an idealogoy behind it:

Belts are supposed to signify status in their respective disciplines.  That is why martial artist start at white and go to black.

As they progress, their belt becomes dirtier with age and use....hence it becomes black.

They say though, that once you get your black belt, you return to being a white belt as you are a beginner again and just starting on a new journey...hence the belt returing to the white color.

:) Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Anyone who says that it comes from washing there belts has no clue. Belts are never washed, as it is a sign of washing your training out. They fade because of use, that is why people who have trained longer have grayer belts. My instructors is almost white now, ecpecially wher it is tied and his hands pull it tight.

Answer 4

They should have taken them to the dry cleaner so they didn't fade. Oh well that gets expensive.  The belts have faded from black to gray, generally that's what happens when you over-wash your black clothes.  The dye that was used to initially make the belt black, just faded. Don't worry they are still black belt butt kickers.  

Answer 5

All clothes will fade after a while, and so will the belts.

The colorcan leech out through the sweat, bleaching through the sun, being but under torsion all of which makes the fibers release the dyes which they hold.

Answer 6

Well you know the people who have no idea of what they are talking about since they are suggesting that people wash their belts

Thanks for the laughs!

Answer 7

Time usually turns it gray. Many black belt like for it to look like this. It signifies that they have been doing this for a long time. Some black belt hand down their old belt to a well deserving student.

There are others who purposely try to discolor their belt to look like a seasoned black belt

Answer 8

Originally there were not different colored belts but rather a belt would change color as its owner trained and practiced over years.  In so doing dirt, sweat, and blood would change it to an ever darker color.  This darker color became associated with one who had mastered the basics and been training for a long time.  For real masters their belt would continue to change color by breaking down and becoming frayed, gray, and faded almost to a whitish color as they continued to train well beyond just mastering the basics.  I have such a belt that I have now worn for over twenty years.  Sometimes at tournaments a younger, lower ranking student will not understand what such a belt signifies and come up and ask me what color my belt is.  At one time one of the martial arts companies was selling grayish, faded black belts and many laughed because what legitimate black-belt in their right mind would consider buying such a belt.  They were obvious fake representations of the real thing and that lasted for about two months before they were discontinued.  I have even heard of black belts taking razor blades and sand paper to a black-belt to try and get it to look like mine with not much success.  When you see one you can tell its the real thing if you know what you are looking at and if not then that person's skill and knowledge can usually speak for itself.